In a mildly contentious House debate, Reps passed 2016-H 7051, legislation that would require the approval of a city or town council to establish or expand a charter school.
Featuring Rep. Antonio Giarrusso, Rep. Michael J. Marcello, Rep. Gregg Amore, Rep. John J. DeSimone, Rep. David A. Coughlin, Jr., Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (who introduced the legislation) and Rep. Patricia L. Morgan.
The bill passed the House, 60 to 11 and now heads to the Senate, where a companion bill, 2015-S 2019 is being considered in the Senate Education Committee.
How does bad legislation pass the General Assembly?
With laughter.
“I’m not going to say it’s a good bill, but I move passage,” said Representative Joseph Shekarchi about the Plumber’s Continuing Education Bill. The bill, which mandates continuing education for plumbers unless the plumber’s age and experience add up to 80 or more, went on to pass the House 59-10. On July 15 the bill became law without Governor Gina Raimondo‘s signature. She didn’t veto the legislation, but she wasn’t about to add her name to it.
Representative Jared Nunes rose to oppose the bill, calling it, “really poor public policy,” before adding, “you almost have to be a mathematician to figure out if you can be a plumber or not.”
Featuring Representatives Nicholas Mattiello, Joseph Shekarchi, Jared Nunes, Joseph Trillo and Stephen Ucci.
Here it is, no editing required:
On July 4, 1776, The United States of America declared their Independence from Great Britain, and the long road to Democracy was begun, a road we are still on. Back then, Royalists opposed democracy. Today those Royalists operate under a different banner.
Those opposed to democracy today pretend that they are fighting Voter Fraud when actually they are fighting Voters. As Rep Joseph Trillo says, “I don’t want everybody to vote unless they are informed on the issues.”
Tom Door is spinning in his grave…
Featuring Joseph Trillo, Cale Keable, Arthur Corvese, Antonio Giarusso, Michael Marcello, Arthur Handy, Brian Newberry, Teresa Tanzi, Michael Chippendale and Nicholas Mattiello.